Have you looked up in the sky and seen a plane pulling a glider? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly in that glider?
Thanksgiving long weekend this photographer had the opportunity to do just that. Little did I know when I went to the airport and asked Andrew Brown of Battlefords Airspray how I could get closer to the glider for a photo that I would end up in it, 2,000 feet above ground. In fact, Andrew also was able to go for a ride despite his slight fear of heights.
It was definitely an adventure to be high in the air without the sound of a motor, and to hear just the sound of the wind and the voice of the pilot, Cpt. Jason Dalsgaard, was a fantastic experience. I was placed in front with all the controls in front of me and an unobstructed view of the Battlefords on a clear sunny day.
According to Cpt. Dalsgaard, the Royal Canadian Air Cadets operate the Schweizer SGS 2-33A, designed as a robust, two-seat training glider. The North Battleford Cadet Flying Site is based at the North Battleford Cameron Mcintosh Airport. Their primary mission at the Cadet Flying Site is to provide a familiarization flight experience to air cadets around Saskatchewan. In addition to this, they continue the training of air cadets who have obtained their Transport Canada Glider Pilot Licence during the summer at the Cadet Flying Training Centre in Gimli, Man.
For my flight we were towed to 2,000 feet above ground level by a Belanca Scout. Once released from the tow plane, most of our flight was conducted at an airspeed of 50 mph. We were able to fly around and view the area around the airport for approximately 12 minutes with me taking unlimited photos. The tow plane was being flown by Cpt. Michael Jasieniuk, who is also the commanding officer of the NBCFS.
Cpt. Dalsgaard has been instructing air cadets in the glider since 2010 when he became a qualified gliding instructor. Before that he had been flying with the air cadet program since 2006 when he got his glider pilot licence as a 16-year-old air cadet.
The Royal Canadian Air Cadets is a fantastic program for youth from 12 to 18 years of age. The goals of the cadet program are to instill qualities of leadership and citizenship in youth, to promote physical fitness and to promote an interest in the Canadian Forces. The Canadian Cadet Organization is a partnership between the Canadian Forces and various civilian air, army and navy cadet leagues, however cadets are civilians and have no obligation to join or serve in the Canadian Forces.
The North Battleford Cadet Flying Site operates on weekends during September and October and April and May. In the summer, air cadets have the opportunity to spend six weeks in July and August at Gimli or at several other cadet training centres across the country and on international exchange.
The gliders remain in North Battleford during the fall and spring gliding seasons and are stored in specifically designed trailers for the winter months. In the summer months, their gliders often go to the Cadet Flying Training Centre in Gimli. Since they do not have a hangar facility in North Battleford, their tow plane is also flown back to Gimli for the winter.
Saskatchewan is serviced by two Cadet Flying Sites, with the other located at 15 Wing Moose Jaw. At the NBCFS, they serve the squadrons closest to North Battleford, 43 North Battleford Squadron being one of them.
What a wonderful experience the Air Cadets provide. For more information contact their office at 306-445-0004 or email [email protected].
